Cannabis is a natural drug made from the plant Cannabis sativa, a member of the same family as hemp. The active ingredient in cannabis and its various forms is tetrahydrocannabinol sometimes shortened to THC.
Marijuana are the leaves and seeds of the Cannabis sativa plant which are dried and then smoked. They can also be produced in a resin block, known as hashish, whose effects are much stronger.
Herodotus reported cannabis abuse among Scythian nomads in about 450BC. Hashish, the name means 'assassinate' in Turkish, was used in the Middle East by terrorists to 'calm their nerves prior to an attack', and was brought back to Europe during the crusades.
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Tetrahydrocannabinol depresses the brain and can cause sedation of the central nervous systemAn intricate network of structures that runs extensively throughout the body and activates, coordinates and controls all functions of the body.
The nervous system consists of two parts, the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. The central nervous system is composed of the brain and the spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system includes the cranial nerves and spinal nerves.
Afferent fibers carry sensory impulses to the central nervous system. Efferent fibers carry motor impulses in the form of electrical energy from the central nervous system to the muscles and other organs.
Somatic fibers are those associated with the bones, muscles and the skin. Visceral fibers are those associated with the internal organs, blood vessels and mucus membrane. All of the functions are coordinated by a network of tiny structures including neurons, axons, dendrites and ganglia.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions.. It makes the body feel relaxed and has the effect of suppressing pain.
It can cause feelings of paranoia and may stimulate sexual desire in some users. Tetrahydrocannabinol crystals can damage the testes reducing male fertility.
The effects of smoking cannabis during pregnancy are similar to that of tobacco. Tetrahydrocannabinol has been observed to cross the placentaThe placenta is a large disk shaped membrane responsible for providing nourishment to the fetus during pregnancy. It consists of three parts, the fetal part made up from the chorion membrane surrounding the fetus, the maternal part, formed from the decidua basalis layer of the uterine lining, and the intervillous space between the two plates. It is connected to the fetus by the umbilical cord and consists of tissue from both the mother and the embryo.
Its function is complex. It has been described as a simple organ that combines the functions of a kidney-dialysis machine, heart and lung machine and intravenous drip. It consists of enormous numbers of blood vessel branches that permit the exchange of nutrition and oxygen, from the mother's bloodstream to the fetus and the removal of wastes to the mother to be excreted. The placenta's remarkable quality is that it does so without the blood of the mother mixing with that of the baby.
It also is responsible for the production of vital hormones including, estrogen, progesterone, and human chorionic gonadotropin. After birth, the placenta is delivered, and is sometimes referred to as the afterbirth.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions., and can be responsible for premature labor.
Babies born of mothers who smoke cannabis are often covered in meconiumWaste material that collects in the intestinal tract of the unborn fetus. It is thick and sticky in consistency and varys in color from dark green to black.
It is formed from a variety of substances from amniotic fluid to secretions in the intestinal tracts. The presence of meconium in the amniotic fluid is usually a sign of fetal distress.
After birth the color and consistency of the stool changes with the ingestion of breast milk or formula.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions., the greenish waste discharge in the amniotic fluidThe liquid, which is produced by both the fetal membranes and the fetus that surrounds the baby during pregnancy. The liter of fluid at term serves to protect the fetus during pregnancy and also provide active chemical exchange.
The amniotic fluid consists of maternal and fetal plasma in varying concentrations. The pH of the fluid is almost neutral and clear, although lipids and desquamated fetal cells can make it cloudy.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions., which is a sign of fetal distressA condition, usually discovered in labor, in which the fetal heartbeat follows an abnormal pattern. The fetal heartbeat is recorded using electronic fetal monitoring.
The acid balance of the fetal blood is measured, and labor is allowed to continue if it falls within prescribed ranges, and the abnormal heartbeat does not recur or persist.
If nescessary, attempts will be made to stabilize the fetus by administering oxygen to the mother, increasing her fluid intake or prescribing an agent to help the uterus relax. In some cases a cesarean section may be required.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions..
There is no evidence of birth defects among babies of cannabis using mothers, but the baby may be born with tremors, which disappear after the first month of life. Exposure to cannabis during pregnancy can be responsible for attention deficit disorderSometimes called minimum brain dysfunction, it is a syndrome that affects primarily children and adolescents and is characterized by learning disabilities. The symptoms are associated with functional deviations of the central nervous system, while lacking signs of major neurologic or psychiatric disturbance.
Symptoms include inpaired perception, conceptual, language, memory and motor skills. Hyperactivity and decreased attention span are common.
The condition is ten times more common in boys and result from genetic factors, biochemical imbalances or perinatal injury or disease. While there is no cure, syptoms eventually subside and treatment includes medication and a modified diet.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions., and memory problems.
You may notice impaired decision making ability in your child, which will become apparent between the age of three and before puberty.
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